I've never gotten into the surface debate. I leave that for the experts. I don't have enough knowledge or perspective.
It's interesting to click on Sporting Life and see 5 pieces on his retirement...
http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/news/
When I was new to racing, when Smarty and Rock Hard Ten and Tapit were pracitcally the only names i knew, I remember reading that Tapit was slightly injured.
I remembered seeing this guy - I didn't have a clue who he was - poking his finger in the ground. It didn't phase me... I was new and thought well maybe they all do this before races. When you have no point of reference nothing seems too surprising.
Anyway, I googled Tapeta cause I had heard about it and wrote a quick email saying sorry he was hurt and that i hoped he'd be okay cause he was a lot of fun to watch.
He was too... the way he'd look off into the stands.
I didn't expect to hear back... why would I? I just wanted to let him know his horse was thought of.
He wrote back immediately, thanked me for my interest and asked me a few questions...
I was surprised.
I answered, asked him some stuff, and he wrote back again asking for my address.
He sent me a package with singed Da Hoss win pictures, some programs, other stuff and a really sweet letter. He emailed a few more times, telling me about a 2YO he had named Bellamy Road..... stuff like that.
I'm not trying to to say anything other than he seemed like a really nice guy... kind-hearted and decent. He talked about his horses like they were his children and to a complete stranger, and I kinda wondered, in time, if they didn't seem to race that much because he babied them or feared for them. I know it sounds stupid.
If nothing else I respect him for trying to change something he saw a problem with. Actions vs words... right?
Again, I'm not qualified to give an opinion on Tapeta or any synthetic surface. I'm just a fan, he was very kind, and I wish him well.
http://www.tapeta.com/